Focused on the stage two team time trial, ORICA-AIS hoped to stay safe on the opening stage of the Brainwash Ladies Tour. Mission accomplished.

“It was a very uneventful day for the team – which for us was good,” said Sports Director Martin Barras. “Our main objective was to stay out of trouble. We avoided mechanicals and crashes of which there were quite a few today.”

The peloton stayed together on stage one of the Dutch Tour. Ina Teutenberg (Specialized-lululemon) won the field sprint ahead of Marianne Vos (Rabobank Women) and Giorgia Bronzini (Diadora Pasta Zara). Vos pulled on the Tour’s first leader’s jersey by virtue of bonus seconds garnered in the first of two intermediate sprints.

“We organized a sprint train for Mel [Melissa Hoskins] with three kilometers left to race,” noted Barras. “We hit the front a bit early and couldn’t finish the job.”

Hoskins managed eighth place in Neerijnen. It is her first road race with ORICA-AIS following the London Olympics.

The team has spent nearly a week focusing on the team time trial effort in preparation for the team time trial at the World Championships.

“Tomorrow is an important goal for the team,” said Barras. “How we ride will reflect the specific training we have put into this discipline over the last week. The team was focused today on holding their position and keeping their powder dry for the team time trial.”